Earle Bruce, former Ohio State head football coach, died at 87, after battling Alzheimer's disease.
His daughters confirmed the death in a combined statement Friday, noting that they would "miss him dearly," but took solace in the belief that "he is in a better place and reunited with his beloved wife."
Bruce's sporting career extends back to his college days, when he played football with the Buckeyes before venturing into the coaching arena as an OSU student assistant under Woody Hayes in 1951, NBC News noted.
In 1979 he took over as head coach after Hayes was axed for assaulting a Clemson player in a 1978 bowl game.
For the next nine years, Bruce led the Buckeyes to an 81-26 record and five bowl victories, USA Today reported.
His career ultimately spanned four decades and saw him go on to work at the University of Tampa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Colorado State.
Responding to news of his death, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer, who worked as a graduate assistant under Bruce during the 1986 and 1987 seasons, paid tribute to the former coach on social media, ESPN noted.
"My mentor and friend, thank you for all you did for The Ohio State University, and all those players and coaches whose lives you made a difference in," he said in a tweet.
Bruce retired in 1995 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 after nurturing 17 former assistants to head coaches, ESPN said.
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